# NTSB DFW07LA164: Boeing B737-800, N929AN, McAlester, OK, July 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2007, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: McAlester, OK - Coordinates: 34.837501, -95.770835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8375&lon=-95.7708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 101 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66256 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66256/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA164 ## Probable cause An in-flight encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - weather condition - turbulence (cause) - seat belt - not used, flight attendant ## Analysis The captain reported that the international flight encountered moderate clear air turbulence while the flight was climbing through 30,000 feet mean sea level (FL300). The captain further reported that the seat belt sign was illuminated and passengers were seated at the time of the short turbulence encounter. Both the captain and the first officer had monitored the weather radar, and neither detected any weather anomalies during the climb to altitude. There were no forecast for turbulence in the area of the encounter. The three flight attendants in the cabin area were performing crew duties when the unexpected turbulence occurred. One flight attendant in the aft galley injured her foot which resulted in a bone fracture. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2007, at approximately 1430 central daylight time, a twin-engine Boeing 737-800 transport category airplane, N929AN, operated by American Airlines Incorporated as Flight 488, encountered unforecasted clear air turbulence during the climb to cruise altitude near McAlester, Oklahoma. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries and the other 2 flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The two pilot and 99 passengers were uninjured. No reported damage was sustained by the aircraft. An instrument flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled international passenger flight operating under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. Flight 488 originated at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at 1356, and was destined for the Lester B. Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) near Toronto, Canada (CYYZ). In a written statement provide to the NTSB, the captain reported encountering moderate clear air turbulence while the airplane was climbing through 30,000 feet mean sea level (FL300). The captain further reported that "the seat belt sign was on and all passengers were seated at the time." Both the captain and the first officer had monitored the weather radar, and neither detected any weather anomalies. The three flight attendants in the cabin area were performing crew duties when the unexpected turbulence was encountered. One flight attendant hit her head on the forward wall of flight class section. The second flight attendant was performing duties in the aft gallery and sustained a cut and bone contusion to her right hand, and sprained her neck, back and hand. The third flight attendant, who was also in the aft galley, reported that she hit her left foot resulting in a bone fracture. At 1353, an automated weather observation station located near McAlester, Oklahoma reported winds from 150 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet with a ceiling of broken clouds at 5,000 feet, temperature 89 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 71 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.90 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N929AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N929AN), registered now, S/N 30078, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing B737-800 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-823](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-823) (registry code 13844CB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30078 - Airframe hours: 21694 - Engines: CFM International CFM 56-7B 26400 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM International CFM 56-7B 26400 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Airlines Inc, doing business as American Airlines - Registered owner: American Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: DFW, Dal-Fort Worth, TX - Destination: YYZ, Toronto - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 9,999 total, 182 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 161 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: MLC From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.